Lantern Parade

Help Illuminate One of Atlanta's Great New Traditions!

Created and hosted by Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons, the Lantern Parade is a celebration of the annual Art on the Atlanta BeltLine exhibition, the largest temporary art exhibition in the south!

Make Your Own Lantern

Workshops hosted by Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons. Learn more →

Join the Fun!

Scene from 2016 Lantern Parade.

Got Questions?We have Answers.

Each year, Art on the Atlanta BeltLine celebrates our exhibition with a captivating and energetic Lantern Parade, created and hosted by Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons. The glowing procession of light, music, and color will illuminate the Eastside Trail on September 22 of this year.

Join the Fun — Become a Volunteer

We need volunteer Lantern Parade Marshals! Volunteers help with crowd control by maintaining space around the bands and large lanterns; assisting parade-goers with street crossings; and helping to keep the trail clean by picking up trash and recyclables. You get a cool Lantern Parade Marshal shirt designed by Chantelle Rytter herself! You get a foam glow stick! And, you get to walk with the rockstars! Sign up here to be a Lantern Parade Marshal!

Colorful Displays Throughout the Year

The Parade’s Humble Beginnings

The Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade debuted on the Atlanta art scene in 2010, and has been growing ever since. In 2012, there were 1,200 participants and tailgaters along the parade route, and in 2017, the Atlanta BeltLine Lantern Parade brought together more than 70,000 people for an awe-inspiring spectacle of lights and sounds.

“The Lantern Parade is a beautiful illustration of how the brilliance of individuals can illuminate a community.” – Chantelle Rytter, Captain of the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons

Thank You to Our Sponsors

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Light It Up!

As the big day gets closer, we'll list lantern workshops hosted by the Captain of the Krewe herself, Chantelle Rytter! For now, check below to see other Art on the Atlanta BeltLine events that may be coming to your neighborhood.

Learn How to Make Lanterns

Hold up a light for the Atlanta BeltLine! Your creative participation is what makes the magic! Like the Lantern Parade, this workshop is created and hosted by Chantelle Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons.

Share the Event!

Share your photos on Instagram and Twitter with #beltlineart and be part of the event.

Volunteer

Join the fun! Art on the Atlanta BeltLine has a variety of volunteer options. For more information, please contact:

Got A Burning Question? Let Us Shed Some Light!

The Lantern Parade has been growing exponentially every year since its inception in 2010. With thousands of participants and spectators, we know there are a lot of logistical questions. Hopefully we address those here.

Gamebook

So, how can you ensure a great time at the Lantern Parade? Just be sure to check off everything on this handy reference list:

Event Logistics

Do I need to be at line-up at 7:30 and ready to march at 8:30 sharp?+-

Don’t worry. It takes the Parade about an hour and a half to fully depart the line-up area. Six marching bands step-off about every 15 minutes.

Can I join in the parade along the route?+-

Yes. Please be courteous and yield space to the marching bands and large lanterns.

Can I bring my dog?+-

No. With so many people participating and such limited space, we ask that everyone leave the four-legged friends at home.

Where can I watch the parade?+-

You can watch the parade anywhere along the Eastside Trail, we just ask that you keep the trail clear for the parade. A few areas are wider and better suited to large crowds. Those are: under Freedom Parkway, at Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark, on the bridge over North Avenue, the Ponce City Market Plaza, and from bridges over the trail (N. Highland Avenue, Freedom Parkway, and Virginia Avenue).

How many people do you think will attend this year’s lantern parade?+-

We don’t know for sure, but we are planning for very large numbers. It will likely be a bigger event than last year.

What about safety? Are first responders present?+-

Yes! Members of Atlanta Fire and Rescue walk their bikes in the parade, ambulances are stationed at key locations, and police officers are located along the parade route.

Can I fly my drone?+-

Please reach out to the communications team at Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. to coordinate drone footage:
Jenny Odom, jodom@atlbeltline.org and 404-477-3659. We need to know who is flying where in order to prevent accidents.

How are we all supposed to fit in the Park when Music Midtown is there?+-

Luckily, the music festival takes place the following weekend (on September 16 and 17, 2017). While organizers will occupy some space along Monroe Drive, there will be space for us all in the greenspace.

Can I set up a table and sell or promote my thing?+-

No. There is no vending permitted.

Lanterns

Do I need a lantern to walk in the parade?+-

Yes. The Lantern Parade celebrates creativity, so use your imagination!

Where do I get a lantern?+-

Make one! Take a workshop with the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons or make a lantern at home. Get
crafty with battery-operated lights! Check out our lantern workshop schedule. Or you can purchase an Atlanta BeltLine lantern at shop.beltline.org.

Can I set off flying lanterns? The flaming kind?+-

Registration and Admission

Does it cost anything to walk in the parade?+-

No – it’s free! Just bring a lantern. Any size or kind works. Get creative! If you feel so inclined to donate to support the arts and the Atlanta BeltLine, visit www.beltline.org/donate.

Do I need to register to walk in the parade? Do I need a ticket?+-

Nope, just show up with your lantern to the start of the parade or join us anywhere along the route and walk north.

Parking

Where do I park?+-

Parking is a challenge. This is a good night for a car service. You can arrive early to hunt for street parking, but it is very limited. Carpooling is encouraged – team up and park a car at the end. Biking is also encouraged, though bicyclists will need to dismount and walk their bikes during the parade. A bike valet will be available along the Eastside Trail under the Freedom Parkway bridge.

Parade sponsor Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center is offering public parking in a prime location for access to the parade and the Old Fourth Ward Fall Fest on Saturday, Sept 10. Park in AMC’s Garage B (East Avenue (between Boulevard & MacKenzie Drive) for $6 and you’re just a short 10 minute walk from Historic Fourth Ward Park. The way will be marked with directional signs. Thanks to Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center for making this lot available to Parade participants!

Paid parking is also available in the Piedmont Park Parking Deck. Additional parking is available along neighborhood streets, including Edgewood Avenue at the beginning of the parade and 10th Street at the end of the parade.

Alternative transportation is also available. Many MARTA stations in the metro area offer free parking to transit riders. The Inman Park/Reynoldstown and King Memorial MARTA train stations are a few blocks away from the start of the event. The Midtown MARTA station is six blocks from the endpoint of the parade. For more information on MARTA train and bus schedules, please visit www.itsmarta.com.

How do I get back to my car from the end?+-

It sounds obvious, but the options are to walk back or call a car service.

Parade Route and Closures

Does the Parade end at Monroe Ave.?+-

No. Keep on walking into Piedmont Park. Enjoy a cold one at Park Tavern and watch the parade come in. It is not over until the 6th band comes in!

Is it ok to bike, skate, walk, or run on the BeltLine against the flow of the parade?+-

No! The parade will be moving north and will occupy the entire width of the BeltLine.

Is the BeltLine closed for the Parade?+-

The Parade occupies the Eastside Trail from Irwin Street to Monroe from 8:30pm-10:30pm. Do not plan to walk, bike, or skate on the Trail during Parade Hours unless you are participating in the parade.

Restrooms and Trash

What about trash?+-

Additional trash cans will line the parade route. Please pack out what you pack in and leave the BeltLine cleaner than you found it! If you live nearby and want to help, we encourage people to grab a bag and walk the Eastside Trail to pick up any remaining trash. This is not an organized volunteer event, but simply a way of helping out. We thank you in advance!

Will there be extra bathrooms?+-

Yes. Stay tuned for locations!

Volunteer

Can I volunteer to help out at the parade?+-

Be Part of Art

Art on the Atlanta BeltLine and the Lantern Parade would not be possible without our incredible sponsors. Art on the Atlanta BeltLine is the largest temporary public art exhibition in the south, so it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your business before thousands of art patrons. Come join the team!

For more information on becoming an Art on the Atlanta BeltLine sponsor, contact:

Art on the Atlanta Beltline Sponsors

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Lantern Parade Sponsors

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Art on the Atlanta BeltLine Supported by

Major support for this project is provided by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

This project is also supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.

Questions?

For more information about Art on the Atlanta BeltLine, please contact:Miranda KyleArts and Culture Project Manager
Phone: 404-477-3636
Email:mkyle@atlbeltline.org